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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2015-08-25Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, August 25, 2015 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Town Hall in said Town of Estes Park on the 25th day of August 2015. Present: Also Present: William C. Pinkham, Mayor Wendy Koenig, Mayor Pro Tem Trustees John Ericson Bob Holcomb Ward Nelson Ron Norris John Phipps Frank Lancaster, Town Administrator Travis Machalek, Assistant Town Administrator Greg White, Town Attorney Town Clerk Williamson Finance Officer McFarland Barbara Jo Limmiatis, Recording Secretary Absent: None Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and all desiring to do so, recited the Pledge of Allegiance. SWEARING IN: Town Clerk Williamson performed the formal swearing -in ceremony of Code Compliance Officer Linda Hardin. PROCLAMATION. Mayor Pinkham proclaimed September 2015 as "Give Where You Live, Work and Play Month". PUBLIC COMMENTS. Jane Livingston, town resident, presented documents, data and recommendations on behalf of the Estes Park Vacation Home Owners Association related to the proposed changes to vacation home regulations and requested staff add the topic to the September 22, 2015 Town Board Study Session agenda. Glenn Smith, town resident and business owner, stated 90% of his customers want use of their property and would not consider long term rental. He also stated if the Town restricts the number of homes as vacation rentals, properties would have fewer buyers and become more difficult to sell. Julie Reichle, town resident, stated she owns a vacation rental and has followed the developments related to the issue closely. She believes the Board and staff should look at the reported problems to determine the major issues and strict enforcement would solve most problems associated with vacation homes. Tim Curfman, town vacation home owner, told the Board the circumstances in which he became a vacation home owner and how he hopes to become an active member of the community once he retires here. He stated the favorable climate for vacation homes in Estes Park allows many like himself the ability to subsidize the cost of a home they could not otherwise afford and believes increasing the regulations would threaten the potential for individuals to relocate. Board of Trustees — August 25, 2015 — Page 2 Chuck Taylor, town vacation home owner, expressed concerns over the proposed regulations on vacation homes, he stated many owners spent a significant amount of money to improve the homes in the area for the purpose of short term rental and would like to review the police reports of complaints related to vacation homes. Glen Malpiede, town resident, stated in his experience many home owners have tried and would never again rent their homes as a long term rentals due to the seasonal economy in Estes Park. As winter approaches, renters are unable to make payments. Long term rental housing can only be resolved by increasing year round employment. TRUSTEE COMMENTS. Trustee Ericson updated the Board on the recent activity of the Transportation Advisory Board, the upcoming Community Development/Community Services Committee meeting and the increases in visitation reported by Rocky Mountain National Park. Trustee Nelson stated the Open Lands Advisory Board meeting was cancelled due to a lack of agenda items. Trustee Phipps reported the Planning Commission design approval of the Visitor Center Parking Structure, reviewed the schedule for the adoption of vacation home regulations and stated Director Chilcott would present the basics of zoning at the next Planning Commission meeting. Trustee Norris informed the Board of the upcoming Visit Estes Park Board meeting and the improvements made by the pothole repair truck to Dry Gulch Road. Mayor Pinkham provided the background of the Sister Cities partnership and stated members from Monteverde, Costa Rica would visit Estes Park in October 2015 to renew the updated agreement. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT. Administrator Lancaster informed the Board the Economic Development Corporation voted to accept the recommendations from NEO Fiber and would ask the Town to consider moving forward with them as well. The Downtown Neighborhood Plan consultant interviews would take place on September 27, 2015 and staffs recommendation would come to the next Board meeting. The Visitor Center Parking Structure final design awaits environmental approval, but should go out for bids by the end of the year. The Light & Power Division has completed the flood restoration work at Windcliff ahead of schedule and under budget. 1. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Town Board Minutes dated August 11, 2015 and Town Board Study Session Minutes dated August 11, 2015. 2. Bills. 3. Committee Minutes: A. Public Safety, Utilities & Public Works Committee, August 13, 2015. 1. Adam Tree Service for Seasonal Display Installation, Maintenance and Removal for 2015 — 2018 - $108,000 — 2015/2016, $109,500 — 2016/2017 and $111,250 -2017/2018 — Subject to appropriations. 2. Dodge 5500 Light & Power Bucket Truck, Altec Industries, $185,158.64 — Budgeted. 3. Dodge Diesel Light & Power Truck only, Johnson Auto Plaza Inc., $46,839 — Budgeted. 4. Light & Power Breakroom Remodel Contract, B&E Builders, Inc. $159,524.55 — Budgeted. 4. Transportation Advisory Board Minutes dated July 15, 2015 (acknowledgement only). Board of Trustees — August 25, 2015 — Page 3 5. Parks Advisory Board Minutes dated June 17, 2015 and July 17, 2015 (acknowledgement only). 6. Estes Valley Planning Commission Minutes dated July 21, 2015 (acknowledgement only). It was moved and seconded (Koenig/Phipps) to accept the Consent Agenda, and it passed unanimously. 2. ACTION ITEMS: 1. ESTES VALLEY COMMUNITY GARDEN UPDATE AND REQUEST FOR FUNDING. Connie Dedon provided an update on the progress of the Community Garden and requested the Town provide $5,000 to assist with the water tap fee in order for construction to begin this fall. It was moved and seconded (Koenig/Ericson) to provide $5,000 to the Estes Valley Community Garden, and it passed unanimously. 2. ESTES PARK HOUSING AUTHORITY UPDATE AND REQUEST FOR FUNDING. Director Kurelja updated the Board on status of the Falcon Ridge project, stating rental applications would be taken in September with the lease process beginning in October 2015. The first building should be ready for occupancy by January 2016 and the project should be completed by April 2016. Leasing preference would be given priority to those affected by the 2013 Flood and those who live within the Park R-3 School District boundaries. Two new staff members would be hired and the Estes Park Housing Authority (EPHA) anticipates full leasing by the summer of 2016. Director Kurelja stated the EPHA is a tax exempt organization, but for the purposes of the Tax Credit partner, a single purpose partnership entity, Falcon Ridge LLLP was formed. Previously the State recognized entities such as this as tax exempt. With turnover of staff at the State level, the interpretation has changed and the State no longer considers such entities to be tax exempt. Director Kurelja requested the Town rebate the approximate $169,000 Town sales tax spent on materials back to the Falcon Ridge project. It was moved and seconded (Norris/Holcomb) to rebate the applicable sales taxes for Falcon Ridge based on Town Attorney White's advice on whether the 1A Sales Tax is applicable for the rebate*, and it passed unanimously. *The Town will reimburse the Estes Park Housing Authority for all Town sales tax paid by the Estes Park Housing Authority, and subsequently collected by the Town, in regard to the construction project at Falcon Ridge, contingent on the opinion of the Town Attorney regarding reimbursement of the 1A portion of the Town sales tax. EPHA Board Chairperson Eric Blackhurst provided the history of housing studies conducted in the Estes Valley and stated EPHA intends to reduce their Town funding request in 2016 to $50,000. A Request for Proposals for a community wide Housing Needs Assessment was sent out for bids and three proposals were received. EPHA chose Rees Consulting, Inc., who completed the 2008 housing study. The cost would be $66,000 and EPHA requested the Town to contribute $33,000. The Board inquired why a new study needs to be conducted since it is obvious the Town is in great need of attainable housing. Blackhurst described how lenders need to see the need based on current data. After further discussion, no formal action was taken on the Estes Park Housing Authority's Request for Funding. The consensus of the Board was to continue the discussion during the 2016 Budget Study Session. Board of Trustees — August 25, 2015 — Page 4 There being no further business, Mayor Pinkh Barbara Jo Lim tis, Recording Secretary joked the at 9:16 p.m.